The Election Commission’s Notifications under Section 60(c) of the RP Act, 1951 – issue of postal ballot to electors above the age of 80 years, electors with physical disability and electors in quarantine due to COVID-19 -regarding.

No. 52/2020/SDR/VOL.I
Dated: 28th September, 2020

To,

                The Chief Electoral Officer of
            Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland,  Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal,  Odisha,  Manipur, and Telangana 

Subject: The Election Commission’s Notifications under Section 60(c) of the RP Act, 1951 – issue of postal ballot to electors above the age of 80 years, electors with physical disability and electors in quarantine due to COVID-19 -regarding.

Sir,

            In continuation of the Election Commission’s letter of even no. dated 17th September, 2020 on the subject cited, I am directed to state that under para 2.3 of the guidelines annexed thereto, it is mentioned that for availing the facility of postal ballot by absentee voters under category of “COVID-19” suspect or affected person, a certificate in this respect issued by the Competent Health Authority, as may be notified by the State Govt/UT Administration, has to be submitted with Form 12D, addressed to the Assistant Returning Officer of the concerned Parliamentary/ Assembly Constituency.

2.         Accordingly, a performa of certificate to be issued by Competent Health Authority to COVID-19 suspect/ affected person has been devised and is enclosed herewith. This may be circulated to all the concerned election officials, immediately.

3.         An absentee voter in COVID-19 suspect/affected category,  desirous  to avail  facility of postal ballot paper, shall apply in Form 12D and submit the same together with the certificate in this enclosed performa, duly issued by the Competent Health Authority.

4.         As the application for postal ballot facility should reach to the RO within 5 days following the date of notification of the election concerned, the Competent Health Authority shall be notified by the State Govt/UT Administration, immediately.

5.         The Commission’s above instruction shall be brought to notice of all concerned, for their compliance.